Faith & Insight: King of kings

1 Timothy 6:13-16 (NKJV)

“I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which he will manifest in his own time, he who is the blessed and only Potentate, the king of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

Jesus is the king of kings and the Lord of lords. The one that came in the likeness of men to no reputation but complete obedience to the death on the cross so that he could establish his rule overall. His confession to Pontius Pilate in John 18:36-37 that his kingdom is not of this world but within the hearts of his disciples established his confidence in the resurrection of himself and those that follow him and love the father in the newness of Holy Spirit. He has given us this new citizenship that causes us to stand in awe of his miraculous works on the cross, resurrection, and ascension.

In this letter to Timothy, Paul urges Timothy and all believers to keep this commandment without spot and entirely blameless. This command covers a few words just before our text in 1 Timothy 6, verses 11 and 12: “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Here is a list of six characteristics we should pursue and two direct commands of action. We pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness, which are fruits of the spirit.

We have commands to “fight the good fight of faith” and to “lay hold of eternal life,” and the last command is to have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. This distinction shows that the ones we pursue are not of our doing alone but a fruit that comes out of us as we live a spirit-led life.

The latter two are entirely our doing, depending on our recognition of the king. Being commanded to fight and lay hold of is very much kingdom language. We fight the fight of faith and hold onto what is but is not yet in telios.

Why do we do this? We are citizens of a New Jerusalem, a new earth, and the eternal place of the resurrected. It says in verse 16 that Jesus “alone has immortality.” We are not immortal in and of ourselves. The declaration established the new nature when we called on the name of the Lord. Immortality is not our self-sustaining ability, even if we are fit and eat healthily.

Immortality is purely divine and the work of a true king, Jesus Christ. I cannot comprehend a life that does not want to worship the most merciful, glorious, loving, kind, and wonderful God. He is our king. He bestows this authority upon us (Revelation 1:6) and now chooses to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit seal upon our hearts. Let us focus on the glorious wonders of Jesus Christ and fulfill the last command of Paul to confess and do it in front of many people.

We confess that Jesus Christ is king of kings and Lord of lords. We confess that all things have come to submission under him. We confess that he has all authority in heaven and earth. We confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord and savior of the world. All hail King Jesus. All fall at his feet. All nations, tribes, and tongues confess who is the lion and lamb of God, Jesus.

Brady Roser is associate pastor at The Bridge Church in Carson City.